Saturday, January 3, 2015

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City is naming their octopus after Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler. Besler will have the opportunity to interact with the octopus, which will include playing with a soccer ball, during a special event at 1 p.m. CT on Monday, Jan. 5.

Besler is coming off an outstanding 2014 season where he represented the United States at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil and was named the KC Sportsman of the Year.

As part of this event, a silent auction will take place online that will give guests the opportunity to win a Matt Besler autographed jersey and soccer ball, as well as a downtown Kansas City overnight package among other items.

All funds raised will go towards SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City's charity, SEA LIFE Trust, which is dedicated to the conservation of marine wildlife and the environment.

SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City has donated Fisher Price Soccer Sets, which Besler will deliver to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City, to help encourage healthy, active kids.

"We are very excited that we can name our octopus after a person who is very involved in the Kansas City community," says Elizabeth Mathews, marketing coordinator for SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City. "We look forward to expanding the partnership with Besler and Sporting Kansas City to help encourage healthy, active kids who are passionate about helping the environment."